Gun mounted on a wheel carriage



June 17, 1930. H. SCHULER ET.AL 1,763,988

GUN MOUNTED ON A WHEEL CARRIAGE Filed Aug. 16, 1929 a Her-91237272\SchuZer a Fritz Hal-Zach ,A'ITIJ NEY.

Patented June 17, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HERMANN SCH'U'LER ANDFRITZ HERLAOH, F DUSSELDORF, GERMANY, ASSIGNORS 'IO RHEINISOHEMETALLWAAREN- UND MASCHINENFABRIK, OF DUSSELDORF-EDEREN- DORF, GERMANY,A CORPORATION OF GERMANY GUN MOUNTED ON A WHEEL CARRIAGE Applicationfiled August 16, 1929, Serial No.

Our invention relates to a gun mounted on a wheel carriage and having anintermediate carrier for the gun adapted to be swung into an uprightposition in order to change the firing height of the gun. The inventionhas for its object to so improve guns of this type which are capableboth to long range and high angle fire, by mounting the gun barrel so asto be swung in all directions and set very quickly, that they can beused to combat swiftly moving aims such as aircraft.

To this end according to our invention the gun barrel is mounted on theintermediate carrier so as to be swung about three crossing orintersecting axes. These three axes for the gun barrel advantageouslyare so ar ranged on the intermediate carrier that in setting the gunbarrel to low firing height for long range fire one of the three axesextends nearly or exactly horizontally in the longitudinal direction ofthe carriage, whilst the two remaining axes are arranged like the normaltraining axis and trunnion axis of a gun, that means the formerextendsvertically and the latter horizontally relatively to the carriage.

By throwing over the intermediate carrier to low firing height a normallong range gun of limited setting ability is thus obtained to the barrelof which the training and elevating motion is imparted by swinging itabout these two latter axes. The above third axis that extends in thelongitudinal direction of the carriage can be used to eliminate lateralinclination of the axis of the horizontal trunnions in the event thecarriage wheels differ in level.

When aerial aims should be attacked the intermediate carrier is erectedso far by swinging it into an upright position on the carriage that theaxis that formerly extended horizontally in the longitudinal directionof the carriage assumes a vertical or approximately vertical positionwhereby an unlimited setting possibility of the gun barrel in thespaceis obtained. The elevation is there upon imparted to the gun barreladvantageously in the same manner as with low firing height by swingingit about the truno nion axis while the lateral train can be inc-386,450, and in Germany November 29, 1926.

parted to it selectively by turning it about the one or other of the tworemaining setting axes.

In order that our invention can be more easily understood an embodimentof our improved gun is illustrated by way of example in the accompanyingdrawing in which Figure 1 is a lateral view of a gun having a barreladapted to freely swing about its setting axes and an intermediatecarrier which is formed by a pedestal that can be thrown over 011thecarriage, the gun being illustrated in firing position, with thepedestal down;

Figure 2 is a similar view with the pedestal in erected position;

Figure 3 is a top view of Figure 2, the gun barrel being removed, and

Figure 4 illustrates the gun in travelling position, the gun barrelbeing thrown over to an inverted position with the muzzle down.

Referring to these drawings a denotes the wheeled carriage the trail ofwhich terminates in a platform resting on the ground. This platform hasmounted on it a pedestal b which can be thrown over in a vertical planeabout a horizontal pin a and carries by a pivot pin d a pivot head 6which can be turned freely 360 degrees. When the pedestal 7) assumes thedown position illustrated in Figure 1 the pivot head rests on the wheelaxle and is thereby prevented from turning about the pivot pin (Z whichin this position extends horizontally in the longitudinal direction ofthe carriage. To prevent unintentional lifting of the pivot c it can berigidly connected to the wheel axle by means of any suitable couplingmeans (not shown). Furthermore, this arrangementmay be so designed thatalso in the down position of pedestal b the pivot head a is able to beswung about the pivot pin cl so that the latter may be used to eliminateoblique position of the axis of the horizontal trunnions.

The pivot head 6 has mounted onit nor- 1n ally to pivot pin (Z and so asto be swung 360 degrees the pin 9 of a fork it that carries the bearingsfor the horizontal trunnions i of the cradle 70 in Which the gun barrelZ guided, a q

hen switfly moving aims more particularly aerial aims should be firedat, the pedestal b is lifted from the wheel axle f and rigid lyconnected in upright position to the carriage a by means of an inclinedsupport m. In this position the pivot pin (Z stands approximatelyvertically, the pin 9 of the trunnion fork 7?. assumes a nearlyhorizontal position and the gun barrel Z owing to its being free to beswung about three setting axes can be set very easily and quickly toevery point in the space, irrespective which of the three setting axesrespond to turning motion in tracing the aim. In so doing advantageouslythose of the three axes are selected or will offer themselves as thebest ones to warrant the most convenient and quick setting of the gunbarrel to the desired position and the lowest resistances to beoverwhelmed in the setting motion.

The gun barrel Zis set and fixed in set position by means of the handlea, but also two such handles may be arranged beside one another. Thehandle a is mounted on the eradle 7:: so as to be turned about an axis 0parallel to the axis of the trunnions 2', so that in all positions ofthe gun barrel, even with great elevations, a position can be impartedto it that permits easy setting, see Fig ure 2.

The firing mechanism (not shown) is arranged on the cradle so as to beturned like handle a and is so connected to the latter by suitable meansthat it follows its setting motions and always is in a proximity tohandle a so as to be manipulated by the operators hand that is graspingthe handle. For instance the trigger may be mounted in the handleitself, as usualin fire arms the handle of which is rigid on the casing,and the connection to the firing hammer lodged in the closure of the gunbarrel is established in this case preferably by means of a Bowdencable.

The possibility of turning the trunnion fork h 360 degrees about the pin9 (a one side turn by 180 degrees would give the same effect) enablesthe gun barrel to be turned over to the rear so far into a travellingposition that its muzzle comes to lie above the carriage, see Figure 4.In this manner the overall length of the gun is favorably reduced fortransport.

W'hen the gun barrel is swung about the pin 9 while the pedestal b is inerected position, a turning moment about the axis of pivot pin (Z arisesin firing which moment 'increases with increasing lateral train aboutpin 9 and in training beyond 10 degrees becomes so great that it cannotlong be taken up by the operators hand. For this reason a couplingdevice is provided according to the invention which for instanceconsists in a spring-loaded locking lever and automatically firmlycouples the pivot head 0 with the pedestal b when the gun barrel istrained about the pin 9 about 10 degrees, so that the turning moment istransmitted by pedestal b to the carriage. The gun barrel then can beswung merely about the axes of pin 1 and trunnions 2', that means, itcan no longer be turned about pivot (Z. This latter possibility,however, is re-established when the gun barrel returns about pin 9 to anangle of less than 10 degrees.

For some fighting situations it will be suitable to not limit thepossibility of turning the gun barrel about the axis of pivot (Z. Inthis case it is required to eliminate for both sides the motion beyond10 degrees about the axis of pin 9, this being made again by means of alocking device similar to that described above. Furthermore, these twolocking devices can be combined on the gun in order to obtain thepossibility of selectively setting the gun barrel in the one or othermanner, and are then brought to a mutual relation such as to cause theone device to be thrown out when the other is selected, and inversely.

In the embodiment hereinbefore described the gun barrel is able tofreely swing about its setting axes. As a matter of course, self-lockingand eventually disengageable setting gears can be interposed betweensome or. all of the mutually movable parts of the carriage and, further,an elevating gear can be provided between the pedestal b and thecarriage a, to set different firing heights.

hat we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. A guncomprising a wheeled carriage, an intermediate member carrying the gunbarrel and adapted to be turned on said car riage in a vertical planeinto an upright and a low position, and means for turning the gun barrelon said intermediate member about three setting axes.

2. A gun comprising a wheeled carriage, an intermediate member carryingthe gun barrel and adapted to be turned on said carriage in a verticalplane into an upright and a low position, and means for turning the gunbarrel on said intermediate member about three setting axes, one ofthese axes extending at least approximately horizontally in thelongitudinal direction of the'carriage when said intermediate member isin low position, out of the remaining axes the one extending thenhorizontally and transversely of the carriage and the other vertically.

3. A gun comprising a wheeled carriage, an intermediate member carryingthe gun barrel and adapted to be turned on said carriage in a verticalplane into an upright and a low position, and means for turning the gunbarrel on said intermediate member about three setting axes, one ofthese axes extending at least approximately horizontally in thelongitudinal direction of the carriage when said intermediate member isin low position, out of the remaining axes the one extending thenhorizontally and transversely of the carriage and the other vertically,the turning amplitude of the gun barrel about said latter axis from themiddle position amounting to at least 180 degrees.

4. A gun comprising a Wheeled carriage, an intermediate member carryingthe gun barrel and adapted to be turned on said carriage in a verticalplane into an upright and a low position, and means for turning the gunbarrel on said intermediate member about three setting axes, one ofthese axes extending at least approximately horizontally in thelongitudinal direction of the carriage When said intermediate member isin low position, out of the remaining axes the one extending thenhorizontally and transversely of the carriage and the other vertically,manipulative means for turning the gun barrel about these axes, anddisengageable means for automatically looking, With said intermediatemember in upright position, the turning motion about said first-named1ongitudinally extending axis upon the gun barrel being turned beyond adetermined amount about said vertical axis, and for re-establishing saidturning motion upon the gun barrel returning to Within said amount. 7

5. A gun comprising a Wheeled carriage, an intermediate member carryingthe gun barrel and adapted to be turned on said carriage in a verticalplane into an upright and a lOW position, and means for turning the gunbarrel on said intermediate member about three setting axes, one ofthese axes extending at least approximately horizontally in thelongitudinal direction of the carriage when said intermediate member isin low position, out of the remaining axes the one extending thenhorizontally and transversely of the carriage and the other vertically,manipulative means for turning the gun barrel about these axes, anddisengageable means for admitting With said intermediate member inupright position a turning motion for the gun barrel about said verticalaxis only by a limited amount.

6. A gun comprising a Wheeled carriage, an intermediate member carryingthe gun barrel and adapted to be turned on said carriage-in a verticalplane into an upright and a low position, means for turning the gunbarrel on said intermediate member about three setting axes one of themextending at least approximately horizontally in the 1011- gitudinalaxis of the carriage When said intermediate member is in low position,out of the remaining axes the one extendingthen horizontally and theother vertically, manipulative means for turning the gun barrel aboutthese axes, disengageable means for automatically locking, with saidintermediate member in upright position, the turning m0- tion about saidfirst-named longitudinally extending axis upon the gun barrel beingturned beyond a determined amount about said vertical axis, and forre-establishing said turning motion upon the gun barrel re turning toWithin said amount, and disengageable means for admitting with saidintermediate member in upright position a turning motion of the gunbarrel about said vertical axis only by a limited amount, and means fordisengaging the one of said two disengageable means when the other isengaged and vice-versa.

In testimony whereof We have afiixed our signatures.

HER-MANN SCHULER. FRITZ HERLACH.

